Stress relieving plate

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a stress relieving plate mounted on a drawer track boot, where screws, bolts or similar fastening devices are used to mount the drawer track boot to the drawer cabinet wherein the stress relieving plate transfers the localized stress caused by the fastening devices to a larger area of the drawer track boot, and to prevent loosening of the screws, bolts or other fastening devices during use of the drawer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a plate or washer fordistributing stress from neighboring fastening elements used to anchor adrawer roller bracket assembly to a cabinet structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional drawer roller brackets adapted for mounting within acabinet typically consist of a track for receiving rollers mounted on adrawer and a means for mounting the track within a cabinet. The bracketsare typically mounted horizontally in opposing pairs and receivecomplementary rollers mounted on opposing sides of a drawer. Variousmeans have been employed for mounting roller brackets inside a cabinetbut in most instances the roller brackets must be anchored at some pointalong the length of the bracket to the inside of the cabinet and at theend of the bracket distal the drawer receiving opening. This end portionof the bracket comprising the anchoring portion is sometimes referred toas a drawer track boot.

[0003] The drawer track boot may be integral with the drawer rollerbracket assembly or may be a distinct piece to which the drawer rollerbracket may be attached. One such drawer roller bracket assembly whichcomprises separate drawer roller bracket and boot pieces is the KitchenMagic drawer track bracket assembly manufactured by Amerock Industries.

[0004] Most contemporary drawer roller bracket assemblies aremanufactured of plastic components because of the ease with whichplastic materials can be installed and the low cost associated withtheir manufacture.

[0005] In addition, plastic components despite their light weight areoften more durable than metal or wood components due to theirresilience. This is a particularly important attribute for drawer rollerbrackets which are subjected to continuous weight bearing stress. Inaddition, regardless of the degree of care employed in installation ofthe roller brackets, torsional stress is inevitable as a result ofuneven weight distribution in a drawer.

[0006] However, despite the advantages of employing plastic drawerbracket parts a significant drawback exists in that the fastening meansfor anchoring the drawer track boot inevitably becomes loose by virtueof repeated stress caused by drawer use. As a result, it is necessary toperiodically tighten the fastening means (usually wood screws) anchoringthe drawer track boot to the interior of the cabinet. Inevitably thetightening of the screws to secure the boot will result in the splittingof a plastic boot. In addition, repetitive torsional stress can causesplitting of the boot at the point a fastener contacts the boot. As aresult, a need exists for a device to prevent splitting of the boot bythe installation or tightening of the boot and also to reduce theincidence of loosening of the boot fastening means.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the subjectinvention to provide an inexpensive device that can be used to preventdamage to a plastic drawer track boot during installation and/ortightening of the drawer track boot to a cabinet.

[0008] It is another object of the subject invention to provide a devicethat prevents loosening of the drawer track boot caused by repeated useof a drawer associated therewith.

[0009] It is still a further object of the subject invention to providea device that distributes stress among neighboring fastener means.

[0010] It is yet a further object of the subject invention to provide adrawer track boot reinforcement device that can be installed easily by alayman using simple hand tools.

[0011] It is still a further object of the subject invention to providea drawer track boot reinforcement device that can be installed inexisting already installed drawer track assemblies.

[0012] It is a further object of the subject invention to provide amethod for preventing damage to a plastic drawer track boot.

[0013] It is a further object of the subject invention to provide animproved drawer roller bracket system including a stress relievingplate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The subject invention is directed to a device for distributingstress from neighboring fastening elements used to anchor a drawerroller bracket assembly to a cabinet structure. The subject invention isparticularly suited to be used in connection with a plastic drawerroller bracket boot wherein the drawer roller bracket is attached atleast in part to the interior of a cabinet by means of said boot. Thesubject invention substantially prevents the plastic drawer rollerbracket boot from being damaged as a result of stress imparted on thefasteners employed to anchor the boot to the cabinetry. The subjectinvention also serves to prevent loosening of the fastener meansanchoring the boot to the cabinetwork.

[0015] The device comprises essentially a substantially planar platehaving formed therein at least one opening for receiving fasteningmeans. The plate is preferably formed of metal but may be formed of analternate material suitable for the purpose such as ceramic, PVC or thelike. The plate is shaped to substantially conform to the shape of themounting surface of the boot with which it is to be used.

[0016] Preferably the plate is generally L-shaped and comprises threeopenings formed therein to substantially correspond to the openingsformed in the mounting surface of the Kitchen Magic drawer track bracketboot manufactured by Amerock Industries. Preferably the plate isfabricated of a metal material of the type typically used forfabricating washers, striker plates and other cabinetry hardware. Suchmaterials include but are not limited to aluminum, steel, brass andalloys thereof.

[0017] The plate is mounted on the surface of the boot opposite thesurface to be anchored directly to the cabinet. Fastening means such asbut not limited to screws used to secure the boot to the cabinet arepassed first through the apertures of the plate and next through thecorresponding apertures of the boot and ultimately into the cabinet towhich the fastener anchors the boot. The fasteners, such as screws, canbe secured so that the head of the screws are flush against the platewithout damaging the underlying plastic boot. The force imparted byfasteners on the plate is distributed over the entire surface of theplate and underlying boot. In the absence of the plate the force of thefastener is imparted only on the plastic material of the boot that iscontacted by the fasteners.

[0018] The plate can be installed during initial installation of theboot and drawer track assembly or afterward.

[0019] Other fasteners such as but not limited to nails may also beemployed in connection with the subject invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a stress relieving plate inaccordance with the subject invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stress relieving plate inaccordance with the subject invention.

[0022] FIGS. 3-7 are top plan views of several preferred embodiments ofa stress relieving plate in accordance with the subject invention.

[0023]FIG. 8a is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the stressrelieving plate in accordance with the subject invention.

[0024]FIG. 8b is a cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of thestress relieving plate according to FIG. 8a taken through line A-A.

[0025]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the plate of FIG. 1 prior toassembly in a drawer track boot device.

[0026]FIG. 10 is a perspective of the plate of FIG. 1 affixed to adrawer track boot device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] The present invention is an apparatus for distributing stressfrom neighboring fasteners used to anchor a drawer roller bracketassembly to a cabinet structure.

[0028] The stress relieving plate of the present invention is identifiedgenerally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 1-10. The stress relieving plate 10includes a generally L-shaped body 20 comprising a major body 24 and aminor body 26 and at least one opening 30 formed in the body 20.Referring to FIGS. 1-7, it can be seen that the stress relieving plate10 can comprise a body 20 with a major body 24 and a minor body 26providing various L-shaped forms with openings 30 of various dimensions,and remain within the scope of the invention.

[0029]FIG. 1 shows a top plan view and FIG. 2 shows a perspective viewof the stress relieving plate 10. As can be observed, the opening 30 cancomprise any shape suitable for receiving a fastening means. Additionalembodiments of the opening 30 include, but are not limited to,triangular, square, and rectangular shaped openings.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment the stress relieving plate 10 is formedof metal of the type typically used for fabricating washers but inalternate embodiments the stress relieving plate 10 may be formed of anymaterial suitable for the purpose of stress dissipation. This materialcan consist of metals such as aluminum, steel, brass and alloys thereof,or other materials such as ceramic, plastic, wood, PVC or the like.

[0031] Now referring to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of the stressrelieving plate 10 comprises one opening 30. In an alternate embodimentnow referring to FIG. 4, opening 30 comprises at least two openings 30.As shown in FIG. 7, in another embodiment the plate 10 comprises atleast one inlet 30 to the stress relieving plate 10.

[0032] Now referring to FIG. 9 in a most preferred embodiment the majorbody 24 has a length indicated by dimension “x” of about 1{fraction(11/16)}″ to about 1{fraction (13/16)}″ and a width of about {fraction(9/16)}″ to about {fraction (11/16)}″ and minor body 26 has a lengthindicated by dimension “y” of about 1{fraction (7/16)}″ to about1{fraction (9/16)}″ and a width of about {fraction (5/16)}″ to about{fraction (7/16)}″ and is used in conjunction with the Kitchen Magicdrawer track boot.

[0033] The opening 30 is formed in the body 20 for receiving a fastener70 such as but not limited to a wood screw, sheet metal screw, nail,bolt or the like.

[0034] Now referring to FIG. 8a, a preferred embodiment of the stressrelieving plate 10 includes a locking means 40. In a most preferredembodiment the locking means 40 is a roughened surface formed on thesurface of the body 20 adjacent opening 30 that prevents the fasteningmeans (not shown) such as but not limited to a sheet metal screw fromloosening when the head of the sheet metal screw is in contact with thelocking means. Now referring to FIG. 8b, in another embodiment thelocking means is at least one protrusion 45 that engages the head of afastening means such as a sheet metal screw 50. However, the lockingmeans 40 can be any suitable means that is known in the art.

[0035] Now referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the stress relieving plate 10 isdisposed on the surface of a drawer track boot 60 on the surface 62opposed to the surface contacting a cabinet 80. The stress relievingplate 10 is secured to the drawer track boot 60 by fasteners 70. Thestress relieving plate 10 is generally L-shaped to conform to a mountingsurface that supports and connects a drawer track 90 to the drawer trackboot 60. In a preferred embodiment the stress relieving plate 10comprises three openings 30 formed therein to assure communication offasteners 70 with apertures 64 of the drawer track boot 60. The stressrelieving plate 10 substantially prevents the drawer track boot 60 frombeing damaged as a result of stress imparted by the fasteners 70employed to anchor the drawer track boot 60 to the cabinetry 80.

[0036] Now referring to FIG. 10, the stress relieving plate 10 ismounted on the drawer track boot 60 to be attached to the cabinetry 80.Fasteners 70 such as, but not limited to, screws used to secure thedrawer track boot 60 to the cabinetry 80 are passed through the openings30 of the stress relieving plate 10 and through the correspondingapertures 64 of the drawer track boot 60 and into the cabinetry 80. In apreferred embodiment, the fasteners 70 consists of wood screws, howeverother fastening elements such metal screws, bolts, and nails can beused. The force imparted by the heads of fasteners 70 on the stressrelieving plate 10 is distributed across the stress relieving plate 10and the underlying drawer track boot 60.

[0037] Now referring to FIGS. 8a and 8 b, in a preferred embodimentplate 10 further comprises locking means 40 adjacent to openings 30. Ina most preferred embodiment best seen in FIG. 8a locking means 40comprises a roughened surface. As best seen in FIG. 8b in an alternatemost preferred embodiment locking means 40 comprises a protrusion 45.

[0038] Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of theinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of theforegoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construedas illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled inthe art the best modes of carrying out the invention. Details of thestructure may be varied substantially without departing from the spiritof the invention and the exclusive use of all modifications, which willcome within the scope of the appended claims, is reserved.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stress relieving plate for a drawer track bootcomprising a substantially planar L-shaped body comprising at least oneopening formed therein.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 comprisingat least two openings formed therein.
 3. The invention according toclaim 1 comprising at least three openings formed therein.
 4. Theinvention according to claim 1 further comprising a locking meansadjacent said opening to prevent a fastener from loosening.
 5. Theinvention according to claim 4, said locking means comprising aprotrusion adjacent at least one opening in said plate.
 6. The inventionaccording to claim 4, said locking means comprising a roughened surfaceadjacent at least one opening in said plate.
 7. The invention accordingto claim 1 wherein at least one of the openings is an inlet.
 8. Theinvention of claim 1, said L-shaped body comprising a major body and aminor body.
 9. A stress relieving plate for a drawer track bootcomprising: a substantially planar L-shaped body comprising a major bodyand a minor body having at least one opening formed therein forreceiving a fastener means to secure the drawer track boot to a cabinetsurface, said major body being about 1{fraction (11/16)}″ to about1{fraction (13/16)}″ in length and about 1{fraction (9/16)}″ to about{fraction (11/16)}″ in width and said minor body being about 1{fraction(7/16)}″ to about 1{fraction (9/16)}″ in length and about {fraction(5/16)}″ to about {fraction (7/16)}″ in width.
 10. A system forrelieving stress placed upon a cabinet drawer boot comprising: a stressrelieving plate that contacts a surface of the boot, the stressrelieving bracket having at least one aperture formed thereincorresponding to at least one opening formed in the boot, a fastenerdisposed in the aperture in the stress relieving plate and the openingin the drawer boot, wherein said fastener secures the stress relievingplate to the surface of the boot and the boot to the cabinet.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10 comprising at least two openings formed in saidplate.
 12. The system of claim 10 comprising at least three openingsformed in said plate.
 13. The system of claim 10 further comprising alocking means disposed adjacent to at least one said opening.
 14. Amethod for distributing stress among neighboring fastening meansemployed for attaching a drawer track boot to an interior surface of acabinet, the method comprising: providing a stress relieving plate for adrawer track boot comprising a substantially planar L-shaped bodycomprising at least one opening formed therein; providing a drawer trackboot having a cabinet mounting surface and an opposite plate receivingsurface and at least one aperture formed therein for receiving afastener means; mounting said L-shaped plate on said plate receivingsurface of the drawer track boot such that at least one opening in thestress relieving plate communicates with at least one aperture in thedrawer track boot; placing the cabinet mounting surface of the drawertrack boot in contact with a surface of the cabinet; passing a fastenerthrough the opening of the stress relieving plate and the aperture ofthe drawer track boot; and affixing the fastener to the cabinet, wherebythe fastener secures the stress relieving plate to the drawer track bootand the drawer track boot to the cabinet surface.
 15. The method ofclaim 14 said plate comprising at least two openings formed therein. 16.The method of claim 14 said plate comprising at least three openingsformed therein.
 17. The method of claim 14 said plate comprising alocking means adjacent at least one opening.
 18. The method of claim 17said locking means comprising a protrusion adjacent at least one openingin said plate.
 19. The method of claim 17 said locking means comprisinga roughened surface adjacent at least one opening in said plate.